Sever apparatus including a user registration unit to register a correlation between a camera and a user

ABSTRACT

A server apparatus includes a recording means for recording a captured image transferred from an electronic camera; and a user registration means for registering the electronic camera and a user in correlation based on user registration information that has been input by the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a server apparatus that records acaptured image transferred from an electronic camera over a wirelessnetwork.

BACKGROUND ART

A digital camera is known which transfers image data that has not yetbeen transferred to a user terminal whose address has already been setby detecting an access point of a wireless LAN that can be connected tothe user terminal and connecting the user terminal to the detectedaccess point (see Patent Literature 1).

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.    2006-115024

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

If each of a plurality of users has a digital camera and images aretransferred to a server apparatus by using each of the digital cameras,the server apparatus needs to sort and record the images user by user.However, the user terminal disclosed in Patent Literature 1 cannot sortand record images transferred from digital cameras user by user.

Means for Solving the Problem

The server apparatus according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises a recording means for recording a captured imagetransferred from an electronic camera; and a user registration means forregistering the electronic camera and a user in correlation based onuser registration information that has been input by the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferredthat the server apparatus according to the first aspect furthercomprises an invalidation means for invalidating the correlation of theelectronic camera with the user in response to an unlink instruction bythe user and, when the correlation of the electronic camera with theuser is invalidated by the invalidation means, transfer of the capturedimage from the electronic camera is prohibited.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the serverapparatus according to the second aspect may further comprise aregistration canceling means for canceling the correlation of theelectronic camera with the user to cancel user registration if resetinformation is transmitted from the electronic camera when thecorrelation of the electronic camera with the user is invalidated by theinvalidation means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the serverapparatus according to the second or third aspect can further comprise arestoration means for restoring the correlation of the electronic camerawith the user that has been invalidated by the invalidation means inresponse to a relink instruction by the user.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, captured images transferred from thedigital camera can be appropriately sorted and recorded user by user inthe server apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an image transfer systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a part of a flowchart illustrating picture bank transferprocessing performed by an electronic camera;

FIG. 3 is shows a part of the flowchart illustrating the picture banktransfer processing performed by the electronic camera other than thepart shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating image transfer processing;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating transfer image storage processingperformed by a picture bank server;

FIG. 6 is flowchart illustrating user registration processing performedin the picture bank server;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating reset processing performed by thepicture bank server; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating transfer-interrupted image storageprocessing performed by the picture bank server.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1. Construction

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image transfer system according toan embodiment of the present invention. An electronic still camera(hereafter an electronic camera) 1 with a function of wireless LANconnection is connected to a public access point 31 or a home accesspoint 32 through a wireless LAN. The type of connection of the wirelessLAN in this case is called an infrastructure mode. The public accesspoint 31 and the home access point 32 are connected to the Internet 33.A picture bank server 34 is connected to the Internet 33.

The public access point 31 is installed at sites available to the publicsuch as airports, stations, hotels, and restaurants. The public accesspoints 31 include paid ones for which a charge is incurred when they areused and free ones. When connection is established to a paid publicaccess point, user authentication is performed in order to judge whetherthe user is a normal user based on predetermined account information.The account information, which consists of a user name and a password,can be obtained when the user of the electronic camera 1 applies forservice to the service provider in advance with paying a predeterminedfee. On the other hand, when the user of the camera 1 establishesconnection to a free public access point, no user authentication usingsuch account information is performed.

The manufacturer or sales company of the electronic camera 1 often isunder engagement with a specified service provider on free use of theservice for a predetermined period of time for the promotion of sales ofthe electronic camera 1. The access point information including accountinformation of the public access point provided by the service provideris registered in the electronic camera 1 in advance as free-plan accesspoint information. Accordingly, the user of the electronic camera 1 canuse the public access point freely for a predetermined period of timeeven if it is payable under normal conditions. A plurality of types ofsuch free-plan access point information differing in contents from areato area of shipment destination of the electronic camera 1 isregistered.

The home access points 32 are installed in homes or offices, which areavailable only to the users and related persons. A PC (personalcomputer) 35 besides the electronic camera 1 is connected to the homeaccess point 32 through a wireless LAN.

A picture bank server 34 includes a recording device that records andstores image files transferred from the electronic camera 1. That is,when respective image files of images captured by the electronic camera1 are transferred from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bankserver 34 through the wireless LAN and the Internet 33, the image filesare recorded in the recording device of the picture bank server 34. Onthis occasion, the image file is temporarily recorded in a temporaryfolder set for the individual electronic camera 1 in the recordingdevice in the picture bank server 34 if it is before the userregistration to be detailed later is performed. On the other hand, afterthe registration of the user has been completed, the image file isrecorded in a user folder set for each user when the registration of theuser was made in the recording device of the picture bank server 34.This enables storage of the images captured by the electronic camera 1in the picture bank server 34 without using the PC 35.

The user can view the image files stored in the picture bank server 34by accessing the picture bank server 34 using the PC 35. If necessary,the user can download the image files stored in the picture bank server34 to the PC 35 or transfer them to another server.

The electronic camera 1 includes a variable optical system 3, arechargeable battery 4, a charge controller 5, an optical component 7,an image sensor 8, an analog signal processor 12, an A/D converter 13, atiming controller 14, an image processor 15, an operation portion 16, acontroller 17, a memory 18, a compressor/expander 19, a display imagegenerator 20, a liquid crystal display 21, a memory card interface 22,an external interface 23, and a wireless LAN module 24.

The rechargeable battery 4 supplies to each unit of the electroniccamera 1 power necessary for the operation thereof. The supply of powerfrom the rechargeable battery 4 to each unit of the electronic camera 1is allowed or prohibited depending on the state in which the electroniccamera 1 is operated. The control of the state of power supply isperformed by the controller 17.

The charge controller 5 performs control of charging of the rechargeablebattery 4. When an AC adapter 6 is inserted into the power source socketin a state where the AC adapter is connected to the electronic camera 1,the AC commercial power source supplied from the power source socket isconverted by the AC adapter 6 into a DC current, which is then output tothe charge controller 5. Then, the charge controller 5 charges therechargeable battery 4 with the DC current. As a result, therechargeable battery 4 is charged using the power supplied from outside.When the rechargeable battery 4 is fully charged, the charge controller5 stops the charging.

The variable optical system 3 includes a photographic lens consisting ofa plurality of optical lenses, an aperture, and a shutter and so on. Theoptical unit 7 is constituted by an optical filter and a cover glass andso on. A light flux from a subject, which is passed through the variableoptical system 3 and the optical unit 7, forms a subject image on theimage sensor 8.

The image sensor 8 captures the subject image formed by the variableoptical system 3 and outputs an image signal (captured image signal)corresponding to the captured subject image. The image sensor 8 includesa plurality of pixels and sequentially outputs image signals, which areanalog signals, corresponding to the charges stored in respective pixelsto the analog signal processor 12 pixel by pixel. The image sensor 8 isconstituted by, for example, a single plate CCD. The analog signalprocessor 12 includes a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit, an AGC(auto gain control) circuit or the like inside thereof and performspredetermined analog processing on the image signals input therein. TheA/D converter 13 converts the analog signals processed by the analogsignal processor 12 into digital signals. The timing controller 14 iscontrolled by the controller 17 and controls the timing of each of theoperations of the image sensor 8, the analog signal processor 12, theA/D converter 13, and the image processor 15.

The memory card interface 22 performs interface processing with a memorycard (card-shaped removable memory) 30 set inside the electronic camera1. The external interface 23 performs interface processing with anexternal device connected through a predetermined cable according to acommunication protocol such as USB. The wireless LAN module 24 performsformat conversion, encoding, modulation/demodulation, frequencyconversion, and the like of data under control by the controller 17 andtransmits and receives radio waves between the module 24 and the publicaccess point 31 or the home access point 32. This allows for connectionof the electronic camera 1 to the wireless LAN that includes the publicaccess point 31 or the home access point 32.

The operation portion 16 includes various types of operation buttons andswitches, specific examples of which include a power switch, a releasebutton, a mode dial, a replay button, an orientation button, a menubutton, a decision button, a cancel button, a deletion button, and ahelp button and so on. The power switch is to switch the power of theelectronic camera 1 ON or OFF. The mode dial is a selection dial forswitching the shooting mode or operation mode of the electronic camera1.

The replay button is a button for displaying a replay image on theliquid crystal display 21. The orientation button is a button for movingthe selected position in an operation screen displayed on the liquidcrystal display 21. The menu button is a button for displaying a menuscreen on the liquid crystal display 21. The decision button is a buttonfor deciding the operation. The cancel button is a button for canceling,for example, the content of operation in an immediately precedinginstruction. The deletion button is a button for deleting unnecessaryimage or the like. The help button is a button for displaying moredetailed information or the like. It may be constructed such that aplurality of functions is assigned to one button and the functions areselectively used depending on the state in which the electronic camera 1is operated.

The liquid crystal display 21 is a display device that displays varioustypes of operation screens depending on the state in which theelectronic camera 1 is operated, displays a subject image captured bythe image sensor 8, or displays a replay image based on the image datastored in a memory card. The output of the operation portion 16 is inputinto the controller 17. The output of the display image generator 20 isinput into the liquid crystal display 21. The image processor 15 isconstituted by, for example, a single-chip microprocessor dedicated forimage processing. A flash memory is used as the memory 18, in whichsoftware for controlling the electronic camera 1 or data such as accesspoint information to be detailed later are recorded.

The A/D converter 13, the image processor 15, the controller 17, thememory 18, the compressor/expander 19, the display image generator 20,the memory card interface 22, the external interface 23 and the wirelessLAN module 24 are connected to each other through a bus 25.

When the operation portion 16 is operated by the user to select theshooting mode and push the release button in the electronic camera 1having the construction as shown in FIG. 1, the controller 17 controlsthe variable optical system 3 to perform focus adjustment and the timingcontroller 14 performs timing control on the image sensor 8, the analogsignal processor 12, and the A/D converter 13. Then, the shooting of thesubject is performed. It may be constructed such that a plurality ofshooting modes can be selected depending on the type of subject and thetiming of shooting may be controlled depending on the shooting mode.When a movie shooting mode is selected, a movie image of the subject canbe shot.

The image sensor 8 generates an image signal corresponding to a subjectimage formed in an imaging region by the variable optical system 3. Theimage signal is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing bythe analog signal processor 12 and is output to the A/D converter 13. Inthe A/D converter 13, the image signal having undergone the analogsignal processing by the analog signal processor 12 is digitalized andsupplied to the image processor 15 as image data.

In the electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment, R (red),G (green), and B (blue) color filters are in Bayer arrangement in theimage sensor 8. Therefore, the image data supplied from the image sensor8 to the image processor 15 are indicated in the RGB color coordinatesystem and each pixel that constitutes the image data has information onany one of color components R, G, and B.

The image processor 15 performs image processing such as interpolation,gradation conversion, or edge enhancement on such image data. The imagedata on which such image processing has been completed is recorded inimage file units in a memory card 30 through the memory card interface22. On this occasion, predetermined compression processing is performedon the image data by the compressor/expander 19 as necessary. As aresult, the captured image is recorded in the electronic camera 1. Onthe image data for which image processing has been completed,interpolation processing has also been completed, so that each pixelconstituting the image data has color information of all the colorcomponents R, G, and B.

The image data recorded in the memory card 30 is wirelessly transmittedfrom the wireless LAN module 24 to the public access point 31 or thehome access point 32 in response to the operation by the user. Thewireless transmission is performed in accordance with the general signalstandard of wireless LAN, for example, the standard of IEEE 802.11b orIEEE 802.11g. The wireless transmission may be performed in accordancewith International standard WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) authentication.

The public access point 31 and the home access point 32 relay the imagedata transmitted from the wireless LAN module 24 in the electroniccamera 1 and transfer the data to the picture bank server 34 through theInternet 33.

As mentioned above, the electronic camera 1 is connected to the wirelessLAN by connecting the wireless LAN module 24 to the public access point31 or the home access point 32. As a result, the electronic camera 1 andthe picture bank server 34 are connected to each other through thewireless LAN. Then, the electronic camera 1 selects images not yettransferred to the picture bank server 34 from among the captured imagesrecorded in the memory card 30 and transfers them to the picture bankserver 34. In this manner, the images captured by the electronic camera1 are transferred to the picture bank server 34. When captured imagesare transferred from the electronic camera 1, a well-known communicationprotocol called PTPIP (Picture Transfer Protocol over Internet Protocol)is used.

2. Setting of Wireless LAN

Next, a method of setting a wireless LAN is explained. As explainedabove, by connecting the electronic camera 1 to the public access point31 or the home access point 32 by the wireless LAN module 24, image shotby the electronic camera 1 is transferred to the picture bank server 34.In order to perform such a connection by using the wireless LAN, it isnecessary to record access point information for each access point to beconnected in the electronic camera 1 in advance. The access pointinformation includes various pieces of information such as an accesspoint name, SSID (Service Set Identifier) of wireless LAN, a method ofobtaining an IP address, an authentication method, type of encryptionmode and content of encryption key used upon authentication, accountinformation (user name and password), and access point type (publicwireless LAN or home wireless LAN). The access point information isstored and saved in the memory 18 so that it should not be erased whenthe power of the electronic camera 1 is cut off.

The registration of access point information is performed in a statewhere the electronic camera 1 and the PC 35, which is a terminal, areconnected to each other through a cable. On this occasion, theelectronic camera 1 is connected to the cable at the external interface23. When the user operates a mode dial of the electronic camera 1 toadjust it to the position “SETUP” in a state where the electronic camera1 and the PC 35 are connected to each other through the cable, asoftware program for setting a wireless LAN installed in the PC 35 inadvance is executed. As a result, the access point information set inthe PC 35 is transmitted from the PC 35 to the electronic camera 1.

The electronic camera 1 receives the access point informationtransmitted from the PC 35 through the cable as mentioned above andacquires it by the external interface 23. Under control of thecontroller 17, the electronic camera 1 writes the content of theinformation in the memory 18 to store and save it. This allows theaccess point information to be registered in the electronic camera 1.

Alternatively, the access point information may be registered directlyin the electronic camera 1 without connecting the electronic camera 1 tothe PC 35. This type of registration of access point can be performed bythe user by operating the operation portion 16. That is, an inputoperation by the user is detected by the operation portion 16 and theaccess point information is set by the controller 17 based on the inputoperation. In this manner, the access point information set based on theinput operation by the user is stored in the memory 18.

As free-plan access point information, access point information forallowing free connection to the public access point of the provider withwhom free access contract for a predetermined period of time has beenconcluded as mentioned above has been registered in the electroniccamera 1 in advance. The free-plan access point information like otheraccess point information is stored in the memory 18. Therefore, by usingthe free-plan access point information, the user can connect theelectronic camera 1 to the public access point 31 and transmit thecaptured image to the picture bank server 34 without registration of theaccess point information.

When the free-plan access point information is used, it is not alwayspossible to use all pieces of the free-plan access point informationregistered in advance in the electronic camera 1. Only the free-planaccess point information corresponding to the shipment area set inadvance for the electronic camera 1 can be used but the free-plan accesspoint information corresponding to other shipment area cannot be used.On this occasion, any one of a plurality of types of access pointinformation stored in the memory 18 is selected by the controller 17 asusable access point information based on the shipment area set inadvance in the electronic camera 1. Other information than that selectedin this manner cannot be used even though registered in the electroniccamera 1. Much less the content of such cannot be displayed on theliquid crystal display 21.

As a result, if the electronic camera 1 sold in a foreign country andbrought into Japan, it is possible to prohibit the electronic camera 1from using the free-plan access point information for domestic services.As a result, the manufacturer and sales company of the electronic camera1 can avoid problems on agreements with the service providers. That is,when an agreement is made that the wireless LAN connection service shallbe available freely to only the electronic cameras 1 sold in Japan, thecontents of the agreement can be observed even if the electronic cameras1 sold in foreign countries are brought into Japan.

The controller 17 controls the wireless LAN module 24 based on theaccess point information explained above to connect the wireless LANmodule 24 to the public access point 31 or the home access point 32. Thecontroller 17 controls such that a non-transmitted captured image istransmitted to the picture bank server 34 through the access pointconnected to the wireless LAN module 24. In this manner, the electroniccamera 1 is connected to the picture bank server 34 through the wirelessLAN and the image captured by the electronic camera 1 is transmitted tothe picture bank server 34.

3. Picture Bank Transfer Processing

Next, explanation is made on picture bank transfer processing performedby the electronic camera 1 when a captured image is transferred to thepicture bank server 34 by connecting the electronic camera 1 to thepublic access point 31 or the home access point 32 via wireless LAN.FIGS. 2 and 3 shows a flowchart illustrating picture bank transferprocessing performed by the controller 17 of the electronic camera 1.Hereafter, the content of the picture bank transfer processing isexplained referring to the flowchart.

In step S1 in FIG. 2, it is judged whether power for charging therechargeable battery 4 is supplied from outside to the electronic camera1. If the power is supplied from outside, that is, if the electroniccamera 1 is connected to the AC adapter 6 inserted in the power socketand commercial power source converted into a DC current by the ACadapter is input to the charge controller 5 to start supply of power,the procedure proceeds to next step S2.

In step S2, it is judged whether the power of the electronic camera 1 isOFF. If it has been judged that the power of the electronic camera 1 isOFF, that is, if the power of the electronic camera 1 is switched OFF bya power source switch provided in the operation portion 16, theprocedure proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if it has not beenjudged that the power of the electronic camera 1 is OFF, that is, if thepower of the electronic camera 1 is switched ON by the power sourceswitch provided in the operation portion 16, the procedure proceeds tostep S12. On this occasion, image transfer from the electronic camera 1to the picture bank server 34 is not performed. With this construction,if it has been judged that power is supplied from outside when the powerof the electronic camera 1 is switched ON, transfer of the capturedimage is prohibited.

In step S3, the power of the electronic camera 1 is switched from OFF toON. In subsequent step S4, it is judged whether the setting of thepicture bank in the electronic camera 1 is ON. If the setting of thepicture bank is ON, the procedure proceeds to step S5. On the otherhand, if the setting of the picture bank is OFF, the procedure proceedsto step S14. Also in this case, image transfer from the electroniccamera 1 to the picture bank server 34 is not performed.

The setting of the picture bank in the electronic camera 1 is made inadvance by the operation of the operation portion 16 by the user to astate of either ON or OFF. That is, when it is desired to enable theimage transfer processing to the picture bank server 34, the user setsthe picture bank ON. On the contrary, when it is desired to prohibit theimage transfer processing to the picture bank server 34, the user setsthe picture bank OFF.

The image transfer to the picture bank server 34 can be performed at anytiming regardless of whether the setting of the picture bank is ON orOFF by selection on the menu screen by the user. However, explanation onthe contents of the processing on this occasion is omitted. That is, inthe following, explanation is made on the picture bank server transferprocessing that is automatically performed in the electronic camera 1when the electronic camera 1 is connected to the AC adapter 6 and powersupply from outside is started.

In step S5, it is judged whether the setting of wireless LAN has beencompleted in the electronic camera 1. On this occasion, when at leastone piece of the above-mentioned access point information is registered,the setting of wireless LAN is judged to have been completed and theprocedure proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, when no access pointinformation has been registered, the setting of wireless LAN is notjudged to have been completed and the procedure proceeds to step S14.Also on this occasion, image transfer from the electronic camera 1 tothe picture bank server 34 is not performed.

In step S5, the free-plan access point information that has beenregistered in advance in the electronic camera 1 is usually exemptedfrom the target of judgment. However, the judgment may be performedincluding the free-plan access point information. That is, on thisoccasion, it is always judged in step S5 that the setting of wirelessLAN has been completed.

When the procedure proceeds from step S5 to step S6, a picture bankstart screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21 in order tonotify the user of the electronic camera 1 of the start of the picturebank transfer processing. In next step S7, it is judged whether thecancel button of the operation portion 16 has been pushed by the user.If the cancel button has been pushed, the procedure proceeds to stepS14. Also on this occasion, image transfer from the electronic camera 1to the picture bank server 34 is not performed. If the cancel button hasnot been pushed, the procedure proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, it is judged whether a predetermined time has passed sincethe picture bank start screen was displayed in step S6. Until apredetermined time, for example, 5 seconds has passed, the procedurereturns to step S7 and the judgment whether the cancel button has beenpushed is continued. When the predetermined time has passed without anypush of the cancel button, the procedure proceeds to step S9. As aresult, when the predetermined time has passed, the procedure proceedsto next processing even when there was no operation by the user so thatimage transfer to the picture bank server 34 can be performed.

In step S9, it is judged whether a nickname and a mail address of theuser have been set in the electronic camera 1. The nickname and addressare transmitted from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server34 when a captured image is transferred. If the nickname and mailaddress have not been set, the procedure proceeds to step S10. On theother hand, if they have been already set, the procedure proceeds tostep S16 in FIG. 3.

In step S10, an input screen for inputting a nickname and a mail addressof the user is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21. The user caninput any nickname and mail address by operating the operation portion16 while the input screen is being displayed. Once the nickname and mailaddress have been input, their information is stored in the memory 18,so that it is unnecessary to input them again next time.

In step S11, it is judged whether a nickname and a mail address havebeen input by the operation of the user in the input screen forinputting a nickname and a mail address displayed in step S10. If theyhave been input, the procedure proceeds to step S16 in FIG. 3. On theother hand, if no operation has been performed by the user and input ofa nickname and a mail address has not been performed for a predeterminedperiod of time, the procedure proceeds to step S14. Also on thisoccasion, image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to the picturebank server 34 is not performed.

In step S16 in FIG. 3, it is judged whether there is an image that is atarget of transfer in the electronic camera 1. If there is an image as atarget of transfer, the procedure proceeds to next step S17. On theother hand, if there is no image as a target of transfer, the procedureproceeds to step S14. For example, when no captured image is recorded inthe memory card 30, or when there is no non-transferred captured imagein the memory card 30, or when the memory card 30 is locked to prohibitaccess thereto, it is judged in step S16 that there is no image as atarget of transfer. When it has been judged that there is no image as atarget of transfer, image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to thepicture bank server 34 is not performed.

In step S17, SSID search is performed. By the SSID search, SSIDs can besearched that correspond to access points to which communication ispossible through the wireless LAN module 24 and the wireless LAN. Onthis occasion, some access points may have a function to make theirSSIDs secret to wireless terminals in which their SSIDs have not beenset. Search of such secret SSIDs is performed based on the informationon the SSIDs registered in the access point information. That is, onlythose access points whose SSIDs have been registered in the access pointinformation are qualified as targets of search for SSIDs. In thismanner, access points that are capable of performing wirelesscommunication with the wireless LAN module 24 are searched.

In step S18, it is judged whether SSIDs have been searched in step S17.If there has been searched at least one SSID of access point that iscapable of communication through wireless LAN, the procedure proceeds tostep S19. On the other hand, no SSID of access point that is capable ofcommunication through wireless LAN has been searched, the procedureproceeds to step S14. Also on this occasion, image transfer from theelectronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34 is not performed.

In step S19, it is judged whether there is in the SSIDs searched in stepS17 an SSID that has already been registered in the electronic camera 1.If there is an already registered SSID, that is, if there has beensearched at least one SSID of an access point of which the access pointinformation has been registered in the electronic camera 1, theprocedure proceeds to step S24. The already registered SSIDs may includethose SSIDs registered in the free-plan access point information. On theother hand, if there is no SSID that has already been registered in thesearched SSIDs, the procedure proceeds to step S20.

When the procedure proceeds to step S19 to step S20, a connection targetselection screen for selecting the target to which the electronic camera1 is to be connected is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21 instep S20. On the connection target selection screen, a list of SSIDssearched in step S17 is displayed.

In step S21, it is judged whether any SSID has been selected as a targetto which the electronic camera 1 is to be connected on the connectiontarget selection screen displayed in step S20. If any one of SSIDslisted on the connection target selection screen is selected by inputoperation by the user, an access point corresponding to the SSID is setas a target of connection of the electronic camera 1 and the procedureproceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if no operation has beenperformed by the user and no selection of target of connection has beenperformed for more than a predetermined period of time, the procedureproceeds to step S14. Also on this occasion, image transfer from theelectronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34 is not performed.

In step S22, it is judged whether the electronic camera 1 could beconnected to the selected SSID. If the connection has been establishedto the selected SSID, the procedure proceeds to step S23, in which imagetransfer processing is performed. The content of the image transferprocessing is explained in detail later. With this processing, thecaptured images are transferred from the electronic camera 1 to thepicture bank server 34. After the processing in step S23 is performed,the procedure proceeds to step S14 in FIG. 2.

On the other hand, if it has been judged in step S19 that there is anSSID that has been already registered in the electronic camera 1 amongthe selected SSIDs, the already registered SSID is automaticallyselected as a destination of connection in step S24. On this occasion,if there has been searched a plurality of already registered SSIDs, thealready registered SSIDs are automatically selected in order ofdescending reception electric field intensity of radio waves received bythe wireless LAN module 24, that is, in order of descending goodness ofwireless connection environment. If connection to any one of the alreadyregistered SSIDs that have been searched has failed with this process,connection to another already registered SSID will be tried.

In step S25, it is judged whether the electronic camera 1 has beensuccessfully connected to the already registered SSID that has beenselected in step S24. If the connection to the selected SSID has beensuccessful, the procedure proceeds to step S23, in which image transferprocessing is performed. With this procedure, the captured images aretransferred from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank sever 34.After the processing in the step S23 has been performed, the procedureproceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if it has been unsuccessful toconnect to any already registered SSID, the procedure proceeds to stepS26.

In step S26, it is judged whether any SSID that has not been registeredin the electronic camera 1 has been searched when SSIDs were searched instep S17. If some SSIDs that have not yet registered have been searched,the procedure proceeds to step S20, in which a connection targetselection screen displaying a list of the non-registered SSIDs isdisplayed on the liquid crystal display 21. Thereafter, theabove-mentioned processing in step S21 and S22 is performed to connectthe electronic camera 1 to the SSID selected by the input operation bythe user and then image transfer processing in step S23 is performed. Onthe other hand, no SSID that was not yet registered in step S17 has beensearched, the procedure proceeds to step S14. Also on this occasion,image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server34 is not performed.

Next, explanation is made on the case where the power of the electroniccamera 1 was ON when the power supply from outside was started, that isthe processing when the procedure proceeds from step S2 to step S12 inFIG. 2. In this case, in step S12, the operation power used in theelectronic camera 1 is switched. That is, the power for actuation, whichhas been supplied to each component of the electronic camera 1 from therechargeable battery 4, is now switched so that it is supplied from theAC adapter 6. With this construction, the electronic camera 1 isswitched from the battery operation to the external power operation.

In step S13, it is judged whether the power switch in the operationportion 16 has been operated by the user after the electronic camera 1is switched to the external power operation in step S12. If the powerswitch has been operated, that is, there has been an instruction to turnthe power OFF from the user, the procedure proceeds to step S14.

When the procedure proceeds from step S13 to step S14, or from steps S4,S5, S7, S11, S16, S18, S21, S23 or S26 to step S14, the power of theelectronic camera 1 is turned OFF in step S14. With this construction,when the processing in step S14 is performed after the image transferprocessing has been performed in step S23, the power of the electroniccamera 1 is automatically turned OFF after the image captured by theelectronic camera 1 has been transferred to the picture bank server 34.In another case, the power of the electronic camera 1 is turned OFFwithout transferring the captured image.

In step S15, charging of the rechargeable battery 4 is started. Afterthe power of the electronic camera 1 is turned OFF and the charging ofthe rechargeable battery 4 has been started in this manner, thecontroller 17 ends the flowchart shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to complete thepicture bank transfer processing. Thereafter, the charging of therechargeable battery 4 is controlled by the charge controller 5 asmentioned above.

Because of the processing performed by the controller 17 as mentionedabove, the images captured by the electronic camera 1 are transferred tothe picture bank server 34 through the wireless LAN.

4. Image Transfer Processing

Next, explanation is made on specific contents of the image transferprocessing performed in step S23 in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchartillustrating the image transfer processing.

In step 101, it is judged whether there has been a request for inputtinga WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) key, which is a cryptography key forbeing allowed to connect to an access point corresponding to the SSIDselected as a connection target. A cryptography key of anothercryptographic type may be used instead of the WEP key. If there has beena request for inputting a WEP key, the procedure proceeds to step S102whereas if there has been none, the procedure proceeds to step S105.

In step S102, a WEP key inputting screen for inputting a WEP key isdisplayed on the liquid crystal display 21. The user can input any WEPkey into the electronic camera 1 by operating the orientation button orthe like on the WEP key inputting screen.

In step S103, it is judged whether a WEP key has been input by theoperation of the user on the WEP key inputting screen displayed in stepS102. If the WEP key has been input, the procedure proceeds to stepS104. On the other hand, if no operation has been performed by the userand input of the WEP key has not been performed for a predeterminedperiod of time, the procedure proceeds to step S120. On this occasion,image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server34 is not performed.

In step S104, it is judged whether a correct WEP key has been input bythe user in step S103. If the input WEP key is incorrect, the procedurereturns to step S102 and the user is invited to input a correct WEP key.On the other hand, if a correct WEP key has been input, the procedureproceeds to step S105. In this manner, authentication of the WEP key isperformed. The user can also stop inputting the WEP key during theinputting of the WEP key by pushing the cancel button.

If a correct WEP key has previously been input by the user to the accesspoint, the content of the WEP key is stored in the electronic camera 1.Therefore, in that case, even when the input of a WEP key has beenrequested by the access point, the authentication of the WEP key isperformed by performing the judgment in step S104 using that WEP keywithout displaying the WEP key inputting screen. Similarly, when thecontent of a WEP key has been recorded in the access point information,the authentication of the WEP key is performed using that WEP keywithout displaying the WEP key inputting screen.

In step S105, it is judged whether there has been a request from theaccess point with the SSID selected as a connection target for userauthentication for connection therewith. The user authentication isperformed so that only connections by legitimate users can be allowed atthe public access point 31. If there has been a user authenticationrequest, the procedure proceeds to step S106 whereas if there has beennone, the procedure proceeds to step S109.

In step S106, an inputting screen for inputting a user name and apassword is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21. The user caninput a user name and a password acquired in advance to the electroniccamera 1 by operating the orientation button or the like on theinputting screen.

In step S107, it is judged whether a user name and a password have beeninput into the inputting screen for inputting a user name and a passworddisplayed in step S106 by the operation by the user. If the user nameand the password have been input, the procedure proceeds to step S108.On the other hand, if no operation has been made by the user and therehas been no input on the user name and the password for a predeterminedperiod of time, the procedure proceeds to step S120. Also on thisoccasion, image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to the picturebank server 34 is not performed.

In step S108, it is judged whether a correct user name and a correctpassword have been input by the user in step S107. If the input username and password have been incorrect, the procedure returns to stepS106 to display again the inputting screen for inputting a user name anda password so that the user is invited to input again a correct username and a correct password. On the other hand, if a correct user nameand a correct password have been input, the procedure proceeds to stepS109. In this manner, user authentication is performed. The user canstop inputting the user name and the password during the inputtingthereof by pushing the cancel button.

Upon the above-mentioned user authentication, predetermined informationis exchanged between the electronic camera 1 and the access pointaccording to a protocol called WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Providerroaming). In the case of the user authentication, like theauthentication of a WEP key, if the user has input to the access point acorrect user name and a correct password in the past, the contents ofthe user name and the password are stored in the electronic camera 1.Therefore, in that case, even when the input of a user name and apassword is requested by the access point, the user authentication canbe performed without displaying the inputting screen for inputting auser name and a password by performing the judgment in step S108 usingthe stored user name and password. When the contents of the user nameand the password are recorded in the access point information, the userauthentication is performed by using the user name and the passwordwithout displaying the inputting screen for inputting a user name and apassword.

When there is a request for inputting a WEP key or a request for userauthentication from the access point, the authentication of the WEP keyor the user authentication as mentioned above is performed. If theresult of such authentication is that the WEP key or the user iscorrect, the connection to the access point is completed. When theconnection to the access point is completed in this manner, theelectronic camera 1 is connected through wireless LAN to the picturebank server 34 that is a destination to which the electronic camera 1transfers the images.

In step S109, a camera ID determined in the electronic camera 1 istransmitted to the picture bank server 34 connected through wirelessLAN. The camera ID is used by the picture bank server 34 when itperforms user authentication and has contents unique to each electroniccamera 1. Therefore, the picture bank server 34 can specify the user whotransfers images based on the camera ID transmitted from the electroniccamera 1. In this manner, the camera ID for user authentication uniqueto each electronic camera 1 is transmitted from the electronic camera 1to the picture bank server 34, which is the destination to which imagesare to be transferred, prior to transmitting images to the picture bankserver 34.

The camera ID can be determined in the electronic camera 1 as follows.For example, a camera ID is determined based on a fixed ID number storedin each electronic camera. For example, a production number of eachelectronic camera may be used as the ID number. It is preferred that theID number of each electronic camera is stored in an encrypted state sothat the user cannot use others' IDs illegally or the user cannot alterthe camera ID illegally. In addition, a separate ID number calculatedaccording to a predetermined algorithm and changed of its content atpredetermined timing may be advantageously used in combination with theabove-mentioned ID number. In this case, it is necessary for the picturebank server 34 to judge the contents of the camera ID using the samealgorithm and at the same timing. In this manner, illegal use oralteration of the camera ID can be prevented more effectively.

In step S110, it is judged whether the result of the serverauthentication performed by the picture bank server 34 based on thecamera ID transmitted in step S109 is OK. If the result of the serverauthentication is OK, the procedure proceeds to next step S111. On theother hand, if the result of the server authentication is not OK, thatis the transmitted camera ID is illegal, or if the user specified by thecamera ID is a target to whom use of the service is restricted, theprocedure proceeds to step S120. On this occasion, image transfer fromthe electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34 is not performed.

In step S111, selection of image files to be transferred to the picturebank server 34 is performed. Here, among the image files correspondingto the captured images recorded in the memory card 30, an image filethat has not yet been transferred is selected. Judgment whether an imagefile has not been transferred yet is performed based on presence orabsence of flag information set at the time of transfer. This flaginformation is called archive bit. That is, an image file of which anarchive bit is set is judged to have already been transferred whereas animage file of which no archive bit is set is judged not to have beentransferred yet. As a result, the image file judged to have already beentransferred is removed from image files to be transferred.

In step S112, the file information on non-transferred image filesselected in step S111 is transmitted to the picture bank server 34. Thefile information to be transmitted includes type of image file, that is,information indicating whether it is a still image or a movie image, afile name, a data size, and so on. The file information transmitted fromthe electronic camera 1 is used in the picture bank server 34 fordetermining the contents of transfer instruction information to bedetailed later.

In step S113, transfer instruction information transmitted from thepicture bank server 34 based on the file information transmitted in stepS112 is received. Based on this transfer instruction information, theelectronic camera 1 is instructed by the picture bank server 34 as towhich image file is to be transferred. When a movie image file istransferred, it is instructed as to which part of the movie image fileis transferred based on the transfer instruction information. That is,instruction is made as to whether the whole movie image file istransferred or it is transmitted from the middle of the file. When themovie image file is transferred from the middle of the file, aninstruction is made as to which part of the movie image file, i.e.,which number of bytes from the head the transfer starts from.

When a movie image file transfer of which has been previouslyinterrupted is to be transferred again, the picture bank server 34 givesan instruction to indicate a part to be transferred again and transferthe movie image file from the middle thereof or halfway. The indicationof the part to be transferred again by the picture bank server 34 onthis occasion is performed based on error check information to bedetailed later.

In step S114, the image file to be transferred to the picture bankserver 34 is decided based on the transfer instruction informationreceived in step S113. Here, the transfer image file is decidedaccording to the instruction of the picture bank server 34. That is, outof the non-transferred image files selected in step S111, only thoseimage files of which transfer has been instructed based on the transferinstruction information are selected as transfer image files. For movieimage files, it is decided whether the whole movie image file is to betransferred or it is to be transmitted from the middle of the fileaccording to the contents of the instruction in the transfer instructioninformation. When it is to be transferred again from the middle thereof,it is decided from which part it is transferred again.

In step S115, it is judged whether there is a movie image file in thetransfer image files determined in step S114. If the transfer imagefiles include a movie image file, the procedure proceeds to step S116.On the other hand, if the transfer image files include no movie imagefile, that is, the decided transfer image files are all still imagefiles, the processing of step S116 is not performed and the procedureproceeds to step S117.

In step S116, error check information for detecting occurrence of errorsin transfer in the picture bank server 34 is calculated for the movieimage files included in the transfer image files. For example, check sumand various types of error detection codes can be calculated as errorcheck information. On this occasion, the error check information iscalculated for every predetermined data amount of the movie image file.For example, the movie image file is sectioned by 10 Mbytes and errorcheck information such as check sum is calculated for each section.

In step S117, transfer of the transfer image files decided in step S119according to the instruction from the picture bank server 34 isperformed. That is, only the image files indicated by the transferinstruction information out of the non-transferred image files selectedin step S111 are transferred. For movie image files, the whole file istransferred or the portion indicated by the picture bank server 34 istransferred again according to the contents of the instruction in thetransfer indication information. By so doing, when transfer of a movieimage has been interrupted in the past and the movie image data istransmitted again, the movie image can be transferred again except forthe portion that has already been transferred before the interruption.When a movie image file is transferred, the error check informationcalculated in step 116 is transmitted to the picture bank server 34together with the movie image file. In addition, the nickname and mailaddress of the user set in the electronic camera 1 are also transmittedtogether with the movie image file.

In step S118, it is judged whether the transfer of image files in stepS117 has been completed. Until transfer of all the transfer image filesdecided in step S114 is completed, the procedure returns to step S117 tocontinue the transfer of the image files. When transfer of all thedesignated image files is completed, the procedure proceeds to stepS118.

In step S119, an archive bit is set to each of the image filetransferred in step S117. The archive bit is flag information that isset to each image file in order to indicate whether the image file hasalready been transferred as mentioned above. As a result, the archivebit is set to each of the image files of which transfer has beencompleted. Therefore, when next image transfer processing is performed,the image file with the archive bit is no more selected asnon-transferred image in step S111.

In step S120, the network established between the electronic camera 1and the picture bank server 34 is cut. On this occasion, the wirelessLAN module 24 ends wireless communication with the access point selectedas a target of connection. This cancels the connection between theelectronic camera 1 and the access point through wireless LAN. In nextstep S121, the power supply to the wireless LAN module 24 is stopped toturn OFF the power of the wireless LAN module 24. In next step S122, atransfer completion screen that indicates completion of the transfer ofimages on the liquid crystal display 21. When the process in step S122has been performed, the controller 17 ends the flowchart shown in FIG.4.

By the processing as mentioned above, the electronic camera 1 and thepicture bank server 34 are connected to each other through wireless LAN.Then, a non-transferred image file is selected and is transferred fromthe electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34. When the cancelbutton is pushed before the image is transferred, a cancel screen isdisplayed to end the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

5. Transfer Image Storage Processing

Next, explanation is made on the operation of the picture bank server 34when a captured image is transferred from the electronic camera 1 to thepicture bank server 34. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the transferimage storage processing that is performed by the picture bank server34. Hereafter, explanation is made referring to the flowchart shown inFIG. 5.

In step S200, a camera ID is received from the electronic camera 1. Thecamera ID is transmitted from the electronic camera 1 in step S109 inFIG. 4 as explained above.

In step S201, it is judged whether the electronic camera 1 thattransmitted the camera ID is usable based on the camera ID received instep S200. For example, when a camera ID with an illegal content isreceived or the electronic camera 1 is set in an unlinked state to bedetailed later, the electronic camera 1 is judged to be unusable and theprocedure proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when this is not thecase, the electronic camera 1 is judged to be usable and the procedureproceeds to step S202.

In step S202 or step S203, the result of the judgment in step S201 istransmitted to the electronic camera 1 as a server authenticationresult. That is, when the procedure proceeds from step S201 to stepS202, a notification that the server authentication result was OK istransmitted to the electronic camera 1. On this occasion, the procedureproceeds to next step S204 after the server authentication result istransmitted. On the other hand, when the procedure proceeds from stepS201 to step S203, a notification that the server authentication resultwas not OK is transmitted to the electronic camera 1. On this occasion,the picture bank server 34 ends the processing in the flowchart shown inFIG. 5 after the server authentication result is transmitted. Therefore,image transfer from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server34 is not performed.

In step S204, file information transmitted from the electronic camera 1is received. The file information has been transmitted from theelectronic camera 1 in step S112 in FIG. 4. As mentioned above, the fileinformation includes type, file name, and data size, and so on ofnon-transferred image file to be transferred.

In step S205, any one of non-transferred image files represented by fileinformation received in step S204 is selected based on the fileinformation. In next step S206, it is judged whether the image fileselected in step S205 is an image file already stored in the picturebank server 34. If the selected image file is an already stored imagefile, the procedure proceeds to step S208 and the image file is removedfrom the target of transfer in step S208. Thereafter, the procedureproceeds to step S212. On the other hand, if the image file selected instep S205 has not been stored yet in the picture bank server 34, theprocedure proceeds to step S207.

In step S207, it is judged whether the image file selected in step S205is a movie image file that has been already been stored in the picturebank server 34 to the middle of the movie image file. If the selectedimage file is not a movie image file that has been stored to the middleof the file, that is, when the selected image file is a still image fileor a movie image file that has not yet been stored, the procedureproceeds to step S211. On the other hand, when the image file selectedin step S205 is a movie image file that has been already stored to themiddle thereof, that is, when the movie image file has been stored tothe middle thereof because the transfer was interrupted in the past, theprocedure proceeds to step S209.

In step S209, error check is performed on the movie image file that isjudged to have already been stored to the middle of the movie image filein step S207. The error check is performed in the picture bank server 34by collating the result of calculation of error check informationcalculated for each predetermined amount of data of the movie image filewith the error check information transmitted together with the movieimage file from the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34 inthe past. That is, if the result of the calculation of error check bythe picture bank server 34 and the result of calculation of error checkby the electronic camera 1 are identical for some portions, it is judgedthat data with correct contents have been stored for those portions. Onthe other hand, if both the results of calculation are different fromeach other for some portions of the movie image file, it is judged thatdata with incorrect contents have been stored for those portions. Afterperforming the error check in this manner to judge which portions of themovie image file are correct and which portions of the movie image fileare incorrect, the procedure proceeds to next step S210.

In step S210, a retransmission start position for starting transmissionof the movie image file again is set based on the result of the errorcheck performed in step S209. On this occasion, the retransmission startposition is set so that the retransmitted portion sets aside theportions judged to be correct but includes the portions judged to beincorrect. By setting the retransmission start position of the movieimage file in this manner, the portions to be retransmitted can bedesignated based on the error check information transmitted in the pastfrom the electronic camera 1 on the movie image of which transfer wasinterrupted. As a result, it is possible to instruct the electroniccamera 1 to retransmit the movie image file except for the portionswhich have already been transmitted before the interruption.

In step S211, the image file selected in step S205 is set as a target oftransfer. In next step S212, it is judged whether all of thenon-transmitted image files represented by the file information receivedin step S204 has been selected in step S205 that has been thus farperformed. If there are some non-transferred image files that have notbeen selected yet, the procedure returns to step S205. In step S205 anyone image file is selected from such image files, and theabove-mentioned processing is performed on the thus selected image file.As a result, the processing described in steps S206 to S211 is performedfor all the non-transferred image files. On the other hand, if all thenon-transferred image files have been selected in step S205, theprocedure proceeds to step S213.

In step 213, transfer instruction information is transmitted to theelectronic camera 1. On this occasion, transfer instruction informationon the image file that has been set as a target of transfer in step S211is transmitted to thereby instruct the electronic camera 1 to transferthe image file. The transmitted transfer instruction information isreceived by the electronic camera 1 in step S113 in FIG. 4, with theresult that the image file corresponding to the instruction of thepicture bank server 34 is transferred from the electronic camera 1.

In step S214, the image file transferred from the electronic camera 1 instep S117 is received. In next step S215, the user of the electroniccamera 1 is specified based on the camera ID received in step S200 andit is judged whether the specified user has already been completed userregistration in the picture bank server 34. If the user registration hasbeen completed, the procedure proceeds to step S216 whereas if the userregistration has not been completed yet, the procedure proceeds to stepS217. A specific method for user registration will be explained laterreferring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

If it has been judged that the user registration has been completed instep S215, the image file is stored in a user folder in step S216. Theuser folder is a recording area set in the recording device of thepicture bank server 34 at the time of user registration in order torecord the captured images transferred from the electronic camera 1. Thepicture bank server 34 assigns a predetermined quantity of memory in therecording device as a user folder for each user who has completed userregistration. If a plurality of electronic cameras is registered for oneand the same user, the picture bank server 34 assigns a quantity ofmemory corresponding to the number of electronic cameras to the userfolder for such user. After the user registration is performed in thismanner, the captured images are recorded in the user folder. When theprocessing in step S216 is performed, the picture bank server 34 endsthe process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

On the other hand, if it has been judged in step S215 that the userregistration has not been completed yet, image files are stored in atemporary folder in step S217. The temporary folder is a recording areaset in advance in the recording device of the picture bank server 34 inorder to record the captured images transferred from the electroniccamera 1. The picture bank server 34 assigns in advance a predeterminedquantity of memory as a temporary folder in the recording device foreach electronic camera 1. In this manner, before the user registrationis performed, the captured images are recorded in the temporary folder.After the user registration is completed, the image files thus farrecorded in the temporary folder are moved into the user folder.

In step S218, an e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address of the userto invite user registration. The e-mail is called welcome mail, whichcontains URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information of registration pageas information for connecting to the registration page at which userregistration is performed. On this occasion, the welcome mail istransmitted after determining the e-mail address of the destinationbased on the information on e-mail address transmitted when the imagefile is transferred by the electronic camera 1. When the processing instep S218 is performed in this manner to record an image in thetemporary file in step S217, a welcome e-mail is transmitted to the useraccordingly. After the processing in step S218 is performed, the picturebank server 34 ends the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

If a welcome mail has already been transmitted to the user, the URL ofthe registration page is rewritten to another one when the welcome mailis transmitted in step S218. In this manner, each time when a welcomemail is transmitted, the URL, which is information for connection to theregistration page, is changed. Further, the URL described in the welcomemail transmitted in the past is made invalid and only the URL describedin the latest welcome mail that is transmitted this time is made valid.This can prevent a third party who has illegally obtained the pastwelcome mails from trying to perform user registration withoutpermission of the user.

By performing the transfer image storage processing as explained above,the picture bank server 34 stores the images transferred from theelectronic camera 1.

6. User Registration Processing

Next, the operation of the picture bank server 34 upon user registrationis explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the user registrationprocessing performed by the picture bank server 34 on this occasion.Hereafter, explanation is made referring to the flowchart shown in FIG.6.

In step S301, it is judged whether there has been a request forconnection to the user registration page. The request for connection tothe user registration page is performed by the user by operating the PC35 so that the welcome mail transmitted from the picture bank server 34in step S218 shown in FIG. 5 is received by the PC 35 and URL of theregistration page described in the welcome mail is selected by, forexample, clicking. The request for connection is input to the picturebank server 34 through the home access point 32 and the Internet 33.

In step S302, it is judged whether the URL designated in the request forconnection in step S301 is a valid URL. As mentioned above, the picturebank server 34 makes only the latest URL valid and the past URLs invalidwhen it transmits a welcome mail in step S218 in FIG. 5. Therefore, ifthe latest URL judged to be valid is designated in the request forconnection, the procedure proceeds to step S303. On the other hand, ifthe invalidated URL is designated in the request for connection, theprocedure proceeds to step S309.

In step S303, user registration page information for displaying a userregistration page is output to the PC 35 connected through the Internet33. When the user registration page information is received by the PC35, the user registration page is displayed on the monitor of the PC 35.On the user registration page, the user can input a password, keyinformation for specifying the electronic camera 1 in the picture bankserver 34, and so on as user registration information by operating thePC 35. The key information is displayed on the monitor of the PC 35 by apredetermined operation of the PC 35 and the contents of the keyinformation are specific to each electronic camera 1.

In step S304, it is judged whether user registration information hasbeen input in the PC 35. The procedure remains in step S304 until userregistration information is input and proceeds to step S305 when someuser registration information is input.

In step S305, user registration is performed based on the userregistration information input by the user in step S304. On thisoccasion, the electronic camera 1 owned by the user is specified basedon the above-mentioned key information input as the user registrationinformation and the electronic camera 1 and the user are registered incorrelation. Then the contents of the user registration informationinput by the user are recorded in the picture bank server 34.

In step S306, a user folder is created in the recording device of thepicture bank server 34 for the user who has made registration in stepS305. The user folder is assigned a predetermined quantity of memory. Asmentioned above, if a plurality of electronic camera is registered forone and the same user, a quantity of memory corresponding to the numberof electronic camera is assigned to the user folder.

In step S307, it is judged whether there is any image file stored in atemporary folder set in advance in the recording device of the picturebank server 34 for the electronic camera 1 owned by the user who hasmade user registration in step S305. On this occasion, the electroniccamera 1 owned by the user is specified based on the above-mentioned keyinformation input as the user registration information. If the imagefile or files transmitted from the thus specified electronic camera 1are stored in the temporary folder set for the electronic camera 1, theprocedure proceeds to step S308.

In step S308, the image files stored in the temporary folder are movedinto the user folder prepared in step S306. With this construction, theimages that have been temporarily recorded in the temporary folderbefore the user registration are moved into the user folder prepared foreach user. After the processing in step S308 is performed, the picturebank server 34 ends the process of the flowchart in FIG. 6.

On the other hand, if it has been judged that no image file is stored inthe temporary folder in step S307, the picture bank server 34 does notperform the processing in step S307 and ends the process of theflowchart in FIG. 6. On this occasion, images are not moved from thetemporary folder to the user folder.

If it has been judged in step S302 that the URL designated by therequest for connection is an invalid URL, an error message is output tothe PC 35 in step S309. When the PC 35 has received the error message,it notifies the user of this fact by displaying a message to the effectthat the user registration cannot be made. After the processing in stepS309 is performed, the picture bank server 34 ends the process of theflowchart in FIG. 6.

By performing the user registration process as explained above, thepicture bank server 34 performs user registration of the electroniccamera 1 in response to the instruction for registration from the PC 35connected therewith through the Internet 33.

7. Reset Processing

Next, explanation is made on the operation of the picture bank server 34when the user registration is reset. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustratingthe reset processing performed by the picture bank server 34 on thisoccasion. Hereafter, explanation is made referring to the flowchart inFIG. 7.

In step S401, it is judged whether an unlink instruction has been inputby the user. The unlink instruction is an instruction that is issued bythe user in order to temporarily prohibit transfer of captured imagesfrom the electronic camera 1 to the picture bank server 34. Input of theunlink instruction is performed by the user by operating the PC 35connected to the picture bank server 34 through the Internet 33. Ifthere has been no input of the unlink instruction, the procedure remainsat step S401 whereas if there has been input of the unlink instruction,the procedure proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, the electronic camera 1 is set in an unlink state. Withthis construction, the correlation of the electronic camera 1 with theuser made upon the user registration is temporarily invalidated inresponse to the unlink instruction by the user. If it is tried totransfer captured images from the electronic camera 1 to the picturebank server 34 when the electronic camera 1 is thus set in an unlinkstate, the transfer of the images becomes impossible since theelectronic camera 1 is judged to be an unusable camera in step S201 inFIG. 5.

In step S403, it is judged whether reset information has beentransmitted from the electronic camera 1. The reset information isautomatically transmitted from the electronic camera 1 to the picturebank server 34 when a predetermined reset operation is performed by theuser in the electronic camera 1 and then the electronic camera 1 and thepicture bank server 34 is connected to each other through wireless LAN.When a reset operation is performed in the electronic camera 1, theelectronic camera 1 is initialized to a state of the original setting.On this occasion, the access point information, the nickname, the mailaddress, and so on registered in the electronic camera 1 are deleted.

If the reset information has been transmitted from the electronic camera1 in step S403, the procedure proceeds to step S406. In step S406, theuser registration information recorded in the picture bank server 34 isdeleted. With this construction, the correlation of the electroniccamera 1 with the user is canceled and the user registration isinvalidated. If a captured image is transferred from the electroniccamera 1 to the picture bank server 34 after the user registration wasinvalidated as mentioned above, the captured image is stored in thetemporary folder in the picture bank server 34 in the same manner asbefore the user registration. After the processing in step S406 isperformed, the picture bank server 34 ends the process of the flowchartin FIG. 7.

On the other hand, if no reset information has been transmitted from theelectric camera 1 in step S403, the procedure proceeds to step S404. Instep S404, it is judged whether a relink instruction is input by theuser to the electric camera 1 that has been set in an unlink state instep S402. The relink instruction is an instruction that is issued bythe user in order to bring the state of the electronic camera 1 from theunlink state to the original registered state. The user can return thestate of the electronic camera 1 in the picture bank server 34 to theoriginal registered state by performing the relink instruction, forexample, when the user has set the electronic camera 1 to an unlinkstate by mistake or when the user has set the electronic camera 1 in anunlink state in order to prohibit the transfer of the captured imagesupon lending the electronic camera 1. Input of the relink instruction isperformed by the user by operating the PC 35 connected to the picturebank server 34 through the Internet 33.

If there has been no input of the relink instruction in step S404, theprocedure returns to step S403 and the judgment on the presence oftransmission reset information is repeated. On the other hand, if therehas been input of the relink instruction, the procedure proceeds to stepS405.

In step S405, the unlink state set in step S402 is canceled. With thisconstruction, the correlation of the electronic camera 1 with the usertemporarily invalidated is returned to the original registered state.After the processing in step S405 is performed, the picture bank server34 ends the process of the flowchart in FIG. 7.

By performing the reset processing as explained above, the picture bankserver 34 temporarily invalidates the user registration of theelectronic camera 1 in response to the unlink instruction from the PC 35connected thereto through the Internet 33. Further, it recovers thetemporarily invalidated user registration in response to the relinkinstruction from the PC 35.

8. Transfer Interrupted Image Storage Processing

Next, explanation is made on the operation of the picture bank server 34when image transfer from the electronic camera 1 is interrupted. FIG. 8is a flowchart illustrating the transfer interrupted image storageprocessing performed by the picture bank server 34 on this occasion.Explanation is made referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8.

In step S501, it is judged whether there is an image of which transferfrom the electronic cameral has been interrupted. If there is an imageof which transfer has been interrupted in the picture bank serer 34, theprocedure proceeds to step S502 whereas if there is no such image in thepicture bank server 34, the procedure proceeds to step S503. Theinterruption of image transfer from the electronic camera 1 occurs whenthe user voluntarily interrupts the transfer by operating the cancelbutton while the image is being transferred or when the connectionthrough wireless LAN cannot be maintained, for example, due to worseningof radio wave environment.

In step S502, it is judged whether the image of which transfer has beeninterrupted is a movie image or a still image. If the image is judged tobe a movie image, the procedure proceeds to step S503. In step S503, aportion of the movie image, which portion has already been transferredbefore the interruption, is stored. On this occasion, the movie imageportion is recorded and stored in the temporary folder before the userregistration or in the user folder after the user registration.

On the other hand, if the image is judged to be a still image, theprocedure proceeds to step S504. In step S504, the portion that hasalready been transmitted before the interruption is deleted from thestill image. That is, in the case of the still image, even if there is aportion that has already been transferred before the interruption, thatportion is not stored but is deleted. After step S503 or step S504 isperformed, the procedure proceeds to step S505.

In step S505, it is judged whether a storage limitation for the portionof the movie image stored in step S503, which portion has already beentransferred, has passed a predetermined storage limitation. If it haspassed the predetermined storage limitation, the procedure proceeds tostep S506 and the portion of the stored movie image that has alreadybeen transmitted is deleted. With this construction, when the alreadytransferred portion of the movie image is stored in the picture bankserver 34, it is stored for a predetermined period of time and afterlapse of the time, it is deleted. As a result, it is prevented that thealready transferred portion of the movie image, which is no longernecessary, is stored for a long period of time. After the processing instep S506 is performed, the procedure returns to step S501 and theabove-mentioned processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it isjudged that the storage limitation has not passed yet in step S505, theprocessing in step S506 is not performed and the procedure returns tostep S501.

When the already transferred portion of the movie image has been storedin the above-mentioned manner, the quantity of data for that portion isdeduced from the remaining recording capacity of the temporary folder orthe user folder. That is, a value is obtained by deducing the quantityof data of the already transferred portion of the movie image stored inthe temporary folder or the user folder from the recording capacity ofthe temporary folder assigned in advance to each electronic camera 1 orfrom the recording capacity of the user folder assigned in advance toeach user. An upper limit value of total data quantity upon recording astill image or a movie image in the temporary folder or the user folderis determined based on this value. By so doing, the picture bank server34 can maintain its storage capability even when transfer interruptionof movie images occurs frequently.

By performing the above-explained transfer interruption image storageprocessing, the picture bank server 34 can store the already transferredportion of a movie image for a predetermined period of time when thetransfer of the movie image by the electronic camera 1 is interrupted.As a result, upon retransfer by the electronic camera 1 of the movieimage, of which transfer has been interrupted, the movie image can beretransferred from the middle thereof after removing the alreadytransferred portion thereof.

According to the embodiments explained above, the following advantageouseffects can be obtained.

(1) The electronic camera 1 is constructed such that the controller 17judges whether the power for charging the rechargeable battery 4 issupplied from outside (step S1). When it has been judged that the poweris supplied from outside, the captured image is transferred to thepicture bank server 34 via the wireless LAN connected by the wirelessLAN module 24 (step S117). With this construction, the captured imagecan be transferred from the electronic camera 1 at appropriate timingwithout any instruction for transfer by the user.

(2) When the controller 17 selects non-transferred image files in stepS111, it judges whether each image file has been transferred to thepicture bank server 34 based on the archive bits set to respective imagefiles of captured images. Then, the controller 17 transfers the imagefiles except for those image files judged to have already beentransferred to the picture bank server 34 (step S117). With thisconstruction, non-transferred captured images can be easily selected andtransferred.

(3) The electronic camera 1 switches power ON or OFF by the power switchin the operation portion 16. The controller 17 judges whether the poweris OFF (step S2) and if the power has not been judged to be OFF, theprocedure proceeds to step S12. With this construction, the transfer ofcaptured images is prohibited in the case where it has been judged thatwhen the power of the electronic camera 1 has been turned ON and thepower is supplied from outside in step S1. With this construction,unnecessary transfer of captured images can be prohibited when theelectronic camera 1 is switched to external power operation and operatedby the user.

(4) The controller 17 turns the power of the electronic camera 1 OFFafter the captured images have been transferred to the picture bankserver 34 in step S117 (step S14). With this construction, the power isprevented from being consumed wastefully.

(5) The electronic camera 1 detects the input operation by the userthrough the operation portion 16 and sets access point information bythe controller 17 based on the input operation. The electronic camera 1causes the controller 17 to control the wireless LAN module 24 based onthe access point information to connect to the public access point 31 orthe home access point 32 and transfers captured images to the picturebank server 34 through the connected access point (step S117). With thisconstruction, the captured images can be transferred from the electroniccamera 1 without inputting setting information used for the connectionto the destination of transfer in advance by the user.

(6) In the electronic camera 1, the access point information set in thePC 35 connected thereto through a cable is received by the externalinterface 23 from the PC 35. The controller 17 causes the wireless LANmodule 24 to connect to the public access point 31 or the home accesspoint 32 based on the access point information. With this construction,the access point information can be set from the PC 35, which is aterminal device.

(7) In the electronic camera 1, the free-plan access point informationregistered in advance is stored in the memory 18. The controller 17causes the wireless LAN module 24 to connect to the public access point31 based on the free-plan access point information. With thisconstruction, the captured images can be transferred from the electroniccamera 1 without setting any access point information.

(8) The memory 18 stores access point information for connecting free ofcharge to the public access point 31 as the free-plan access pointinformation. With this construction, the captured imaged can betransferred by connecting free of charge the electronic camera 1 to thepublic access point 31.

(9) The temporary folder and user folder for storing the captured imagestransferred from the electronic camera 1 are set in the recording devicein the picture bank server 34. The picture bank server 34 performs userregistration of the electronic camera 1 corresponding to an instructionfor registration by the user (step S305). Before the user registrationis performed, the captured images are stored in the temporary folder(step S217). After the user registration is performed, the capturedimages that have been stored in the temporary folder are moved into theuser folder (step S308), and the captured images are stored in the userfolder (step S216). With this construction, the captured imagestransferred from the electronic camera 1 can be appropriately sorteduser by user and stored in the picture bank server 34.

(10) The picture bank server 34 transmits a welcome mail, which is ane-mail that invites user registration once a captured image is stored inthe temporary folder (step S218). With this construction, it is possibleto invite user registration for users who have not made userregistration yet.

(11) In step S218, the picture bank server 34 transmits a welcome mailbased on the mail address information transmitted together with thecaptured image from the electronic camera 1. With this construction, thewelcome mail can be transmitted to the mail address of the user withoutfail.

(12) The welcome mail transmitted by the picture bank server 34 in stepS218 includes URL of registration page as connection information forconnecting to the registration page for performing user registration.With this construction, the user who has received the welcome mail canperform user registration without difficulty.

(13) In step S218, the picture bank server 34 changes the URL of theregistration page and invalidates the URLs that have been transmitted inthe past each time when a welcome mail is transmitted. With thisconstruction, even when a third party who has illegally obtained thewelcome mail in the past attempts to perform user registration, suchattempt can be prevented.

(14) The recording device of the picture bank server 34 assigns to thetemporary folder a predetermined quantity of recording capacity for eachindividual electronic camera 1 and assigns to the user folder apredetermined quantity of recording capacity for each user who hasperformed user registration. With this construction, an appropriatequantity of recording capacity can be assigned to each of the temporaryfolder and the user folder.

(15) When a plurality of electronic camera 1 has been registered for asingle user, the recording device of the picture bank server 34 assignsto the user folder a quantity of recording capacity depending on thenumber of registered electronic cameras. With this construction, therecording capacity of the user folder can be increased depending on thenumber of registered electronic cameras for the user who owns aplurality of electronic cameras.

(16) The picture bank server 34 registers the electronic camera 1 andthe user in correlation based on the user registration information inputby the user in step S304 (step S305). With this construction, thecaptured images transferred from the electronic camera 1 can beappropriately sorted user by user and stored.

(17) When an unlink instruction is input by the user (step S401), thepicture bank server 34 performs setting to an unlink state forinvalidating the correlation of the electronic camera 1 with the user inresponse to the unlink instruction (step S402). When the unlink state isset, the picture bank server 34 prohibits transfer of the capturedimages from the electronic camera 1. With this construction, the usercan instruct the picture bank server 34 to prohibit the transfer of thecaptured images from the electronic camera 1 temporarily.

(18) If reset information is transmitted from the electronic camera 1when the unlink state has been set in step S402 (step S403), the picturebank server 34 cancels the correlation of the electronic camera 1 withthe user and cancels the user registration (step S406). With thisconstruction, the state of the electronic camera 1 in the picture bankserver 34 can be returned to the state similar to that before the userregistration in response to transmission of the reset information fromthe electronic camera 1.

(19) When a relink instruction is input by the user (step S404), thepicture bank server 34 cancels the setting of the unlink state inresponse to the relink instruction and returns the correlation of theelectronic camera 1 with the user that has been invalidated (step S405).With this construction, the user can return the state of the electroniccamera 1 in the picture bank server 34 to the original registered state,for example, in the case where the electronic camera 1 has beenerroneously set into an unlink state or where the electronic camera 1has been set into an unlink state in order to prohibit the transfer ofthe captured images upon lending the electronic camera 1 to others.

(20) The electronic camera 1 connects to the wireless LAN through thewireless LAN module 24 and transfers still images or movie images to thepicture bank server 34 through the controller 17 (step S117). On thisoccasion, when retransferring a movie image, transfer of which has beeninterrupted, the electronic camera 1 retransfers the movie image exceptfor the portion that has already transferred before the interruption.With this construction, when the transfer of the movie image has beeninterrupted, the occurrence of extra communication time and extracommunication data quantity required for the retransfer can beminimized.

(21) The electronic camera 1 calculates error check information for eachpredetermined data quantity of the movie image through the controller 17(step S116) and transmits the calculated error check information to thepicture bank server 34 when the movie image is transferred in step S117.Thereafter, when the movie image, of which transfer has beeninterrupted, is retransferred in step S117, the controller 17retransfers the portion designated by the picture bank server 34 basedon the error check information transmitted in the past. With thisconstruction, only the portion, of which transfer has been interrupted,except for the portion that has been normally transferred before theinterruption can be retransferred without fail.

(22) When the transfer of a movie image by the controller 17 of theelectronic camera 1 has been interrupted, the picture bank server 34stores the already transferred portion of the movie image only for apredetermined period of time (step S503). Then, after lapse of thepredetermined period of time, the already transferred portion of thestored movie image is deleted (step S506). With this construction, itcan be prevented that the already transferred portion of a movie image,which is unnecessary, is stored for a long period of time in the picturebank server 34.

The recording device of the picture bank server 34 determines an upperlimit value of total data quantity upon recording a still image or amovie image transferred from the electronic camera 1 based on a valuethat is obtained by deducing the quantity of data of the alreadytransferred portion of the movie image stored in step S503 from therecording capacity for the temporary folder assigned to each electroniccamera 1 or the recording capacity for the user folder assigned to eachuser of the electronic camera 1. With this construction, even whentransfer interruption of movie images occurs frequently, the picturebank server 34 can maintain its storage capability.

(24) The picture bank server 34 transmits transfer instructioninformation to the electronic camera 1 for designating the image file tobe transferred (step S213). In the transfer instruction information, thepicture bank server 34 designates to the electronic camera 1 a portionto be retransferred on a movie image of which transfer has beeninterrupted based on the error check information transmitted from theelectronic camera 1 in the past. With this construction, it is possibleto designate only the interrupted portion in the movie image, of whichtransfer has been interrupted, and retransfer it without fail.

(25) The electronic camera 1 stores in the memory 18 a plurality oftypes of access point information registered in advance for connectingthe wireless LAN module 24 to the public access point 31. Then, thecontroller 17 selects any one of the plurality of types of access pointinformation stored in the memory 18 based on the shipment target areafor the electronic camera 1 set in advance, causes the wireless LAN 24to connect to the public access point 31 based on the selected accesspoint information, and transfers the captured images to the picture bankserver 34 through the connected public access point 31. With thisconstruction, appropriate public access point can be selectedcorresponding to the shipment target area for the electronic camera.

(26) The memory 18 stores a plurality types of access point informationfor connecting free of charge to the public access point 31 as free-planaccess point information. With this construction, the captured imagescan be transferred by connecting the electronic camera 1 with the publicaccess point 31 free of charge.

The above-mentioned embodiments and various modifications are merelyexemplary. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to thecontents of these embodiments and modifications as far as the featuresof the present invention are not damaged.

The disclosure of the following priority application is hereinincorporated by reference:

-   Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-38062 (filed Feb. 19, 2007).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A server apparatus comprising: a recordingdevice in which a captured image transferred from an electronic camerais recorded; a user registration unit that registers a correlationbetween the electronic camera and a user based on user registrationinformation that has been input by the user; a registration invalidationunit that temporarily invalidates the correlation of the electroniccamera with the user, the correlation having been registered upon a userregistration by the user registration unit, in response to an unlinkinstruction by the user, until a relink instruction is input by the userto the electronic camera or until a reset information is transmittedfrom the electronic camera; a restoration unit that returns a state ofthe electronic camera from the unlink state in which the correlation ofthe electronic camera with the user is temporarily invalidated by theregistration invalidation unit to the original state in which thecorrelation of the electronic camera with the user that has been made bythe registration invalidation unit in response to a relink instructionperformed by the user; a registration canceling unit that cancels thecorrelation of the electronic camera with the user registered upon theuser registration and invalidates the user registration, when a resetoperation is performed in the electronic camera and reset information istransmitted from the electronic camera during a time while thecorrelation of the electronic camera with the user is temporarilyinvalidated by the registration invalidation unit; and a transferprohibiting unit that temporarily prohibits transfer of captured imagefrom the electronic camera during a time while the correlation of theelectronic camera with the user is temporarily invalidated by theregistration invalidation unit.